Drier for photographic prints



June 5, 1923'.

1,457,451 W. H. MORGAN DRIER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS Filed April 20.1922 s Sheets-Sheet .1

W. H. MORGAN DRIER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS June 5, 1923. 1,457,451

Filed April 20. 1922 3; Sheets-Sheet 2 ,i'fiperfibr Wilberlb Emma]:

Z hisAHon W. H. MORGAN DRIER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS- June 5,

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rivals Patented June 5, 1923.

WILBERT H. MORGAN, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DRIER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS.

Application filed April 20, 1922. Serial No. 555,725.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILBERT H. MORGAN, a citizen of the Dominion ofCanada, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driers forPhotographic Prints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to machines for drying prints, suchas photographic prints, blueprints, and the like, but some features ofmy invention may be embodiedin drying machines of other kinds. In myUnited States Patent No. 1,250,618 of Dec. 18, 1917, I have shown amachine for drying photographic prints in which two heated drums arearranged side by side andare traversed by two superimposed belts-or webswhich hold the prints between them and carry the prints around portionsof the drums. The belts are guided by adjustable guide rollers and meansis provided for adjustable imparting a suitable tension to the belts.Ihave found that superior results are obtained by arranging the heateddrums a short distance apart, one above the other, in such manner thatthe heat from the lower drum assists in heating the upper drum and theportions of the belt and the prints traversing the space between the twodrums. I have also found that in view of the length of the belts and thematerial of which they are made, it is necessary or desirable to providesome means for maintaining the proper alinement of the belts as theypass through the machine. In the machine shown in my former patent, thetension device is so constructed that it may be adjusted by ratchetmechanism but when so adjusted it is rigidly held. I have now found itdesirable to have such tension device yieldingly held sothat it mayautomatically adjust itself when required. Inasmuch as photographicprints usually bend or become curved when being dried and as it isdesirable that they should be as straight or fiat'aspossible, I haveprovided means whereby the prints are flattened to the desiredextentjust prior to their delivery to the tray which receives thefinished prints.

In carrying out my present invention I employ a frame of any suitableconstruction, and in the frame I mount one above the other and a shortdistance apart two drying drums which are heated by gas, gasoline,electricity, or other suitable heating medium. Two superimposed beltsare employed as heretofore and they are guided in such manner that atone point in the machine, printsmay be fed between them and at anotherpoint the prints may be discharged into a suitable tray or re- Theprints are arranged close together, one belt being superimposed upon theother from the receiving end of the carrier to the delivery end thereofand they pass around portions of the drums in a novel way. The belts arenot superimposed throughout their entire lengths, but are separated fora portion of their lengths and are guided in such manner as to return tothe feed end of the machine in proper relation.

ceiver.

In order that the desired tension in the machine.

a be imparted to the belts, guide rollers areyemployed mounted insuitable frames which are held under spring tension and in order tomaintain the alinement of the belts I provide devices which operate onthe opposite edge portions of the belts in such manner as to correct anytendency which they may have to leave the proper path of traversethrough In order that the belts may have a greater extentof surfaceapplied to the heating drums, I provide novel means for drawing towardseach other those portions of the belts disposed between the twodrums andwhich portions of the belts are exposed not only to the heat of the twodrums, but also to the drying effects of the atmosphere.

The device for flattening or straightening the prints preferablycomprises an adjustable roller which presses against the belts at theirdelivery end and imparts a curvature thereto of such nature as to bendthe prints reversely to their normal bend and thus correct their shape.Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side view of a print dryingmachine embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is a detail view on an enlarged scale, partly in elevation andpartly in section on the line 22 of Figure l and showing particularlyhow one of the improved tension devices is constructed and mounted.

Figure 3 is a view on an enlarged scale in side elevation of the devicesfor guiding the delivery ends of the belts and for correcting the shapeof the prints before leaving the belts.

Figure lis a detail view on an enlarged scale and in section on the linel4 of Figure 1, showing particularly certain features of the devices forpreserving the alinements of the belts.

Figure 4: shows the parts in their normal position when the belt isrunning true.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure d.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but illustrating how the devicesoperate when the belt tends to leave its normal path.

The main frame of the machine is preferably made for the most part ofchannel iron but other material may be employed. It consists of fouruprights A having feet a, horizontal bottom cross-pieces B connected tothe uprights A a short distance above their lower ends and inclinedcross-pieces C connected to one set of 111 rights at the up per endsthereof and to the other set of uprights a considerable distance belowtheir upper ends thus providing means above said inclined cross piecesfor supporting the belt driving and print delivery mechanism. Diagonalframe pieces D connected to two of the uprights at their junctions withthe cross pieces 33 are connected to the other set of uprights at theirjunction with the inclined cross pieces C. This form of frame is strongand durable and is the construction preferred although not essential.

The drums E and F are arranged one above the other with a space betweenthem. They may be constructed in any suitable way and are mounted toturn in hearings in the frame in manner shown. The ends of the drums areformed with ventilating openings f and man holes a, f. These drums maybe heated in any suitable way, preferably by gas or gasoline suppliedthrough pipes G provided with regulating cocks g.

is heretofore I employ two belts which are so supported and operated asto carry the prints to be dried into contact with the drawing drums andto deposit them in a suitable receptacle. The inner belt or the onewhich comes in direct contact with the drying drums is marked X. whilethe outer belt which holds the prints on the inner belt is marked Y. Theinner belt X passes from a tension roller J over a guide roller Kmounted between the cross-pieces C to the upper drum E and pressesagainst the lower side portion thereof on one side. It then passesthrough a guiding device L located between the drums, then into contactwith the lower drum around which it passes being in contact with all buta small portion of the surface thereof. The belt X next passes upthrough the guide device L into contact with one side of the drum E,then over an ad justable guide roller M, then around a guide roller N,then under the roller 0 of an alining device O and then to the tensionroller J. The outer belt Y passes from a guide roller P at the feed endof the machine over the roller K and follows the inner belt through theguide L around the lower drum F, around the drum E, and across theadjustable roller M, carried by the bracket a It then passes aroundanother guide roller R and over a roller S to a guide roller T locatedin the lower part of the frame. It then passes through an alining deviceU, under a guide roller V, through the tension device V and back to theguide roller P. It will be observed that the guide L, located in thespace between the drying drums, holds the belts close to the adjacentportions of the drums and thus increases the heating surface in directcontact with the drums. This device consists of a frame Z having rollersZ on opposite sides of the two belts. These rollers extend entirelyacross the machine and are preferably a little longer than the width ofthe belts. The frame is held stationary. being attached to the adjacentuprights A Separate tension devices are employed for the two belts. Itis important that the same degree of tension should be applied to thebelts in order that they may properly move together. The tension devicefor the outer belt Y comprises a frame consisting of side pieces toconnected in any suitable way as indicated at 10 and pivotally mountedon the front uprights A. A roller 20 is carried at the lower end of theframe and a roller 10 at the upper end thereof, and the outer belt Ytraverses these rollers in the manner indicated. A ratchet wheel w iskeyed to the frame W in the manner indicated at 'w", Figure 2. and thisratchet wheel is engaged by a spring pawl 2 carried by an operatinglever or handle Z. This handle is connected by a spring Z with the guideL. The tension of the spring may be regulated by adjusting the handle Zto cause the pawl a to engage different notches in the ratchet wheel. Ihave found that by equipping the tension device with a spring, theoperation of the machine is materially improved.

In order to mount the frame W between the uprights and to support partsof the mechanism I preferably as shown in Fig. 2 employ stub shafts wwhich are secured to the frame bars and have beaded ends as shown. Thelever Z is pivotally mounted on one of the stub shafts w as shown inFig. 2.

The inner belt is also provided with a tension device. This is shown atI and it comprises a frame carrying the roller J hereinbefore referredto. This frame is provided at z to the inclined cross-pieces G.Preferably two springs I are employed, one on each side of the machine.Each of these springs carries a hook 2' which may be made to engage anyone of a series of holes 0 in the inclined frame bar C so that thetension of the springs may be thus varied.

The belts are driven by mechanism operated by motor IV 2 which issuitably geared as shown to the shaft 0" on the roller B. As clearlyshown in Figure 3, the belts X and Y separate when they come to therollers M and It and dry prints are delivered from the belt to asuitable receiving tray S Inasmuch as photographic prints have atendency to curl or bend and as it is desirable that they should be asstraight or flat as'possible, I provide means for flattening the printsjust before they leave the belts. This device consists of a roller M,the shaft m of which is engaged by adjusting screws m and the shaft ismounted in slotted bearings which permit the roller to be moveddiagonally upwards in such manner as to bend the inner and outer beltsjust before they separate. belts and the contained prints, the desiredflatness is given to the prints before they drop into the receivingtray. Should any of the prints adhere to the outer belt at the deliveryends of the belts, they will be removed therefrom by the doctor D anddropped into the receiving tray.

Experience has demonstrated that where belts, such as those made ofcanvas, are employed, there is difficulty in machines of this classincausing the belts to move in proper alinement through the machine and itis, of course, important that the belts should thus move while carryingthe prints and in order to correct any tendency to move out ofalinement, I have provided devices for operating on the inner belt andother devices for operating on the outer belt. The devices for operatingon the outer belt are shown at U. They comprise a roller a supported bytwo links a which are hinged to the diagonal framepieces D at d. Eachlink to is independently hinged to the frame. The roller.

10 which is shown also in Figures 4, 5 and 6, is preferably partiallycovered with strips of emery paper, corrugated rubber, or the like asindicated at u The roller u extends from one side of the machine to theI have found that by thus bending the other as shown in Figures 4, 5 and6. Cooperating with the rolleru are tworollers u, 24 These rollersarequite short and they are secured to a shaft u which extends from oneside of the machine to the other and passes through slots a in the linksM, A spring a; is attached to each end of the shaft or rod '11? and tothe shaft 11 of the roller u. In this way the rollers a u are drawntowards the roller u and are normally held yieldingly in contacttherewith. Fig ure 4 shows the outer belt Y in proper alinement, passingover the roller a without coming in contact with the tapered ends of therollers a w, and when the belt runs normally the parts will occupy theposition shown in Figure 4 and also in Figure 5, but should this beltpass out of alinei'ne-nt as; indicated in Figure 6, one of its edgeswill be guided by the tapered roller into the bite of the rollers u andu 01' u and then the link u which carries the small roller thus engagedwill swing on its pivot in the manner indicated in Figure 6 whilethusengaged with the belt. This operation tends to straighten the beltor bring it into proper alinement. In the actual operation of themachine, the link swings back and forth several times before the belt isproperly alined. Should the correcting movement given to one side of thebelt be more than is sufiicient, the devices on the opposite side of thealining device will operate on the opposite edge portion of the beltand'this operation of the devices on opposite sides of the belt willcontinue until the normal alinement of the belt is obtained.

Th alining devicesfor the inner belt are shown at 0. These compriselinks 0 pivotally connected with the frame pieces C at 0 The links 0'carry a roller 0 he-reinbefore referred to corresponding with the rolleru. and these links also carry small rollers 0 similar in all respects tothe small rollers u 74 and drawn towards the roller 0 by springs 0 Thelinks 0 extend upwardly from the inclined frame bars 0 and hold theroller 0, above these frame bars. The links are continued downward belowthe inclined frame bars and carry counterbalancing weights 0 Thesealining devices 0 serve to preserve the proper direction of movement ofthe inner belt while the alining devices U preserve the proper directionof movement of the outer belt. These alining devices co-operate witheach other and the superimposed belts are thus caused to carry' theprints properly from. feeding position through the drying means to thepoint of delivery.

A machine constructed as shown in the drawings and as hereinbeforedescribed'has been found to be most eificient in practice. The tensionof the belts is automatically ad- &

justed and remains uniform. The prints are delivered in a fiat conditionthoroughly dry. By placing the drying drums one above the other with aspace between them the heat from the lower drum assists in heating theupper drum, thus saving fuel. Furthermore the belts are dried to amaterial extent and the moisture evaporated therefrom and fromthe'prints while they are passing between the heated air space betweenthe drums, as in this way considerable portions of the inner belts areexposed to the evaporating effects of the heated air.

By bending the belts towards each other between the drums a largeramount of belt surface is brought into contact with the drums.

An important feature of the invention resides in the device forautomatically preserving the alinement, as in this waythe belts may bemade to move continuously without dropping the prints and withoutbecoming ammed in the guide mechanism.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a drier for photographic prints and the like, the combination ofupper and lower heated drums, with an air space between them, a belttraversing both drums and a belt guide in the air space between thedrums for drawing the oppositely moving portions of the belt between thedrums towards each other and thus increasing the amount of surfacecontact between the belt and the drums.

2. In a drier for photographic prints and the like, the combination ofone or more heated drums, superimposed belts moving in contact therewithand adjustable means operating on the discharging ends of the belts tobend them and to thus flatten or straighten prints delivered by thebelts.

3. In a drier for photographic prints and I the like, the combination ofa heated drum,

superimposed belts moving in contact there with, guides for thereceiving and discharging portions of the belts, intermediate guides forthe belts, and an adjustable guide roller operating on the dischargeportion of the belts to bend the same and to thus flatten the printscontained between the belts.

4. A drier for photograph prints and the like, comprising a heated drum,superimposed belts traversing the drum, guides for the belts, and atension device operating on the belts comprising a pivotally mountedframe, ratchet mechanism for adjusting it, rollers carried by the framein contact with the belts, and a spring for holding the frame undertension.

5. In a drier for photographic prints and the like, the combination ofheated drums arranged one above the other, superimposed belts traversingthe drums, guides for the belts, and a belt tension device comprising aroller held in contact with the belt, a frame in which it is mounted,and a spring for holding the frame yieldingly.

6. In a drier for photographic prints and the like, the combination ofheated drums arranged one above the other, endless superimposed beltsmoving in contact with the drums, guides for the belts, and a tensiondevice engaging one of the belts comprising a pivotally mounted frame, aratchet wheel rigidly secured thereto, rollers on the frame engagingopposite sides of the belt, a pawlcarrying lever cooperating with theratchet wheel, and a spring connected with the lever for holding thetension device yieldingly.

7. In a drier for photographic prints and the like, the combination ofheating means, superimposed print-carrying belts moving in contact withthe heating means, guides for the belts, and devices for maintaining thealinement of the belts, one of which comprises a guide roller in contactwith which the belt normally moves, and other smaller rollers adapted toengage the edge portions or the belt on the opposite side thereof.

-8. In a drier for photographic prints and the like, the combination ofdrying means, an endless belt moving in contact with the drying means,guides for the belt, and means for maintaining the alinement of the beltcomprising a guide operating on one side of the belt, and devicesarranged on the opposite side of the belt and adapted to operate on theedge portions thereof to correct the alinement.

9. In a drier for photographic prints and the like, the combination ofdrying means, a belt cooperating therewith, guides for the belt, andmeans for maintaining the alinement of the belt, comprising a guideroller on one side of the belt, and devices operating on the edgeportions of the opposite side of the belt mounted to move back and forthlengthwise of the belt.

10. In a drier for photographic prints and the like, the combination ofdrying means, a

belt cooperating therewith, guides for the belt, and means formaintaining the alinement of the belt, comprising a roller engaging oneside of the belt, small rollers on the opposite side of the belt andadapted to engage the edge portions thereof, and links pivotally mountedin the frame of the ma chine adapted to swing longitudinally of the beltwhile the belt is moving through the machine.

11. In a drier, the combination of upper and lower heated drums with anair space between them, a belt traversing both drums and which isexposed to the air space between the drums when passing from one drum tothe other.

12. In a drier, the combination of a heated drum, a belt traversing thedrum, guides for the belt, and a belt tension device comprising a rollerheld in contact with the belt, a

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frame in which it is mounted, and a spring for holding the frameyieldingly.

13. The combination with a belt, guides therefor, means for moving thebelt and 5 means for maintaining the alignment of the belt comprising aguide operating on one side of the belt and devices arranged on theopposite side of the belt moving longitudinally therewith and adapted tooperate on the edge portions of the belt to maintain 10 alignment.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILBERT H. MORGAN. Witness:

GEORGE J. BRIGHAM.

